Leadership Constraints: Leading Global Virtual Teams through Environmental Complexity

Author(s)

Leslie C. Tworoger, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Cynthia P. Ruppel, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Baiyun Gong, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Randolph A. Pohlman

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

International Journal of e-Collaboration

ISSN

1548-3673

Publication Date

1-1-2013

Abstract/Excerpt

This research focused on the question: What leadership constraints contribute to the complexity of the working environment faced by global virtual team leaders and how do those leadership constraints impact the behavior of leaders when they are trying to meet team member expectations? This qualitative study of a high performing team within a multinational corporation (MNC) identified four constraints facing leaders: virtuality, globalization, the domestic workplace, and the matrix organizational structure. These constraints and their interactions contributed to the complexity that leaders faced when attempting to influence followers. While work/life roles have changed dramatically for leaders, team member expectations remain rooted in the past.

DOI

10.4018/jec.2013040102

Volume

9

Issue

2

First Page

34

Last Page

60

NSUWorks Citation

Tworoger, Leslie C.; Ruppel, Cynthia P.; Gong, Baiyun; and Pohlman, Randolph A., "Leadership Constraints: Leading Global Virtual Teams through Environmental Complexity" (2013). HCBE Faculty Articles. 92.
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hcbe_facarticles/92